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Black Ferns thrash USA to secure Pacific Four title
By AAP
New Zealand winger Ayesha Leti-I'iga scored a hat-trick as the Black Ferns continued their preparations for hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup with an emphatic 50-6 win over the United States to wrap up the Pacific Four title.
Leti-I'iga crossed for her first try in the opening minute and six more followed from the home side despite Saturday's rainy conditions in Whangarei, where the US will kick off their World Cup campaign against Italy on October 9.
Three victories in similar conditions over the last three weeks gave the world champion New Zealanders the title. Canada came second, overhauling a 10-0 deficit for a 22-10 victory over Australia in their third game.
The Black Ferns would have slipped outside the top two in the world rankings for the first time with a loss to the Americans but that never looked likely after scrumhalf Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu crossed for the second try after six minutes.
Marino-Tauhinu, playing her eighth Test, took Player of the Match honours for her performance, which included the neat inside pass that set Leti-I'iga on her way to her third try in the second half.
"I think the squad has gelled really well under our new coaching administration and you can see that out on the pitch, the girls really want to keep playing regardless of the conditions," said captain Ruahei Demant.
Former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith was brought in as director of rugby after the touring Black Ferns were heavily defeated in four tests against rising powers England and France late last year.
Smith will not have been pleased with the malfunctioning lineout on Saturday but knows he will be able call on some more experienced players, who were rested for series, when the Black Ferns go for a sixth World Cup title later this year.
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Latest Comments
And Scott Robertson not going so well is he.
Not a bad effort but a correction. McKenzie was not born in NSW so is not a Tah. He was born in Victoria. Played for the Brumbies and coached Qld and also played and then later coached NSW, until the self entitled Tah players decided to stab him in the back. And who was the captain of the Tahs at the time leading the back stabbing. Well, well it was none other than Phil Waugh, current Rugby Australia CEO. Who recently tried to deny he had met Suallii at Hamish McLennan's house pre signing, until McLennan outed him recently as a bald faced liar as he was in fact there.
I doubt very much if McKenzie, who was also assistant coach to Eddie Jones in Jones first stint coaching Australia, would appreciate being labelled a Tah, given it was the Tahs Hooper and Beale and Cheika who stabbed him in the back again when he walked away thru lack of support from Hooper and Rugby Australia.
Schmidt might have theoretically better credentials, even tho he dumped Ireland in the brink but he had to start somewhere. You can't argue if you think he is great that Schmidt should never have been given an opportunity.
Schmidt lacks a crucial ingredient. He's not Australian. It does matter, which as a Bokke you would well know.
Go to commentsBecause the two guys primarily in charge of hiring a new coach for Rugby Australia Peter Horne and Phil Waugh, are Tahs. The Chairman of Rugby Australia Daaniel Herbert is from Qld but he's not that bright and weak.
Horne was good friends with Schmidt and they knew if they hired him on a million dollars a year they would own him and he would select Tah players who shouldn't be there . Like Jake Gordon (4th or 5th best halfback in Australia) and similarly for Donaldson). The Tahs are all about being able to brag how many Wallabies they have, even if the Wallabies keep losing because of it. Michael Hooper, the worst Wallaby captain in decades a prime example. He made Taine Randall look great.
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